Pool-table



*(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. A. PA'INE.

- POOL TABLE.

No. 409,060. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 sneem sheet 2.

R. A. PAINE.

POOL TABLE. No. 409,060. Patented Aug. 13, 1889,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

7 ROBERT ALEXANDER PAINE, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

POOL-TAB LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,060, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed April 29, 1889.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ALEXANDER PAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool-Tables and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, to be a full, clear, and exact description of my improvements, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

- The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for pool-tables, whereby the balls, after being pocketed, may be collected or deposited in the racks or receptacles designated for the use of the different players with but little trouble, a saving of time, and without the necessity of handling or transporting the same away from the table.

To this end the invention consists of an ordinary pool-table having a series of clothlined pipes or tubes leading from the several pockets to the center at an incline, a second series of cloth-lined pipes leading from the center to a second series of pockets or trays adapted to receive the balls, and an elbowjoint at the center, operated by suitable gearwheels and worm, adapted to put the central receptacle in connection with any desired one of the second series of pipes, whereby all the balls of the player will pass into his separate receptable. A beveled wheel milled on its outer surface is provided at each end of the table to adjust the elbow-joint to the desired point. This wheel has also graduations marked on its outer surface to indicate the position of the elbow-joint.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement of the removable receptacles for the pocketed balls, whereby they can be counted and returned to the table without handling separately.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, and

then more particularly point out in the claims the novel points. I

In said drawings, Figure 1 1s a'top v1ew of a pool-table having my improvements attached Serial No. 308,948. (No model.)

in dotted lines, part of the surface being broken away at the center to show the adjusting mechanism. Fig. 2is a sectional side elevation. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of two forms of the mechanism for operating the worms at the center. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the center of the table, showing the elbow-joint and operating worm and gear. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the exit-openings and removable receptacles. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing graduated milled wheel and indicating-arrow. Fig.8 is a detail view showing a section of the clothlined piping used.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

A A are the side pieces, and B B the end' pieces, of the frame; P P, rubber cushions; R, slate, marble, or other suitable surface, and S S lower end boards of table.

0, G, C 0 C, and O are cloth-lined pipes, of any suitable material, which lead from the pockets W to a common central opening V, at a sufficient incline to cause the balls entering the pockets to roll to the center.

E, E, E E ,E and E are other cloth-lined pipes, which lead from the center to the exterior lower edges of the table at a sufficient incline to cause the balls deposited into said tubes to roll to the outer edges of the table, where suitable receptacles are arranged to catch the balls. Both series of pipes have been represented in the drawings to contain six pipes each, but there may be more or less, as desired.

At the center of the table under the surface is an elbow-joint D, the upper edge of which fits close to the central opening V, so as to form a continuation of said opening. The lower edge of the horizontal arm of this elbowjoint is on a level with the lower edges of the pipes E E E 850., so that as said elbow-joint revolves it forms, successively, a connection between the central opening V and each of the pipes E E E &c. This elbow-joint has attached to the lower side of the elbow a pin or projection T, fitting in a ring or socket 0, upon which the elbow-joint is supported. It is held in place at top by ring or socket N, secured around the opening V, for the reception of the vertical arm of the elbow-joint.

Around the vertical arm of this elbow-joint are radial cogs I) adapted to be engaged by worm or worms I\ K on the rod or rods I I, whereby the elbow-joint is revolved on its pivots. These rods I I are supported in bearings at Land M.

Instead of having two rods I I, with worms on their inner ends, there may be only one rod I, extending from one end of the table to the other, with a worm at the center, and having two bearings L on each side of the worm and a bearing at each end of the table. (See Fig. 5.) At the outer end of each rod I is a beveled gear-wheel I-I, adapted to be engaged by a milled index-wheel F, whereby the rod I is turned and the elbow-joint operated.

In Figs. 3 and l I have shown two forms of the gearing between the index-wheel F and beveled gear-wheel II. In Fig. 3 is shown a large milled wheel F, revolving on a pin F, attached to the end board S, having an interiorly-cut beveled surface on its inner side for engagement with the beveled gear-wheel II on rod I. There is a countersink or groove Z cut into the end piece B of the frame where the wheel F comes to the surface to facilitate the operation of said wheel, at the same time keepin the milled surface of said wheel flush with the upper surface of the frame of. the table. This wheel is also graduated on its outer surface so as to determine the position of the elbow-pipe D. There is also an indicating arrow or mark Z (see Fig. 7) on the frame-piece B at the groove Z, to correspond with the graduations on the milled wheel F when the elbow-joint is in either of its exact positions so as to connect with one of the pipes E E E the. There are as many graduations on the milled wheel F as there are pipes E E E &c., one graduation being to indicate the position of each pipe.

In Fig. 4 is shown the second modification. In this form the milled wheel F is attached outside of end board by pin F, on which it revolves. In this form the wheel F revolves in a plane-at right angles to rod I. Both wheels F and II in this form have square faces in place of the beveled faces shown in Fig. 3. The wheel F is formed in two parts or disks-one large and one small-secured rigidly together and rotating around the same common center. This forms a square bearingsurface for the gear-wheel II, which fits into the right angle formed by fitting these two disks together. The construction is clearly shown in the drawings. The countersink or groove Z is also provided in this form; also a case S for inclosing the gearing mechanism. These two forms are the preferred forms of gearing mechanism; but it is obvious that other forms maybe used for accomplishing the same results. This gearing mechanism is placed at each end of the table for convenience, and said mechanism may gear with wheels II on each end of one rod I, or on the outer ends of two rods I I.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the exits e c 6 &c., for the pocketed balls. This leads the balls to the removable receptacles a (1.. (1, the, which are supported upon shelves (1, attached to the sides of the table in any convenient manner. These receptacles or trays a have curved bottoms I), just the curvature of the balls and end pieces, to retain the balls. The receptacles are set on an incline, so as to keep the balls down at one end. At the end of each game the receptacles containing the balls may be removed from their supports, the balls counted and dumped upon the table, and the receptacles replaced, when the table is in readiness for a new game.

In using my improved table the operation is as follows: The first player pushes with his fingers upon the milled edge of wheel F until. mark 0 comes opposite the arrow Z, which indicates that the elbow-pipe D has made connection between the central opening from the pockets and the tube E, which will send all the balls during the first players turn into receptacle (1. This operation is repeated at each players turn, each having a separate mark upon. the graduated wheel and a separate tray for his balls. When the game is finished, each player raises his ball-tray and places it upon the ledge surrounding the table and above its former position, the balls are counted, score made up, balls dumped upon the table, and trays returned to their places.

By the use of my improved table the expense of employing a man to remove the balls from the table, as is usually the case, may be done away with. Disputes as to the ownership of the pocketed balls are avoided, as the action of the device is exact and makes no mistakes in keeping each players balls separate from those of the others, and the balls are quickly returned to the table, as they do not have to be handled separately because of the use of the removable trays.

My improvements can be attached to tables already in use, or made up with new tables manufactured for the special purpose.

Having thus fully described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a pool-table, the combination, with a series of pipes or tubes leading from the several pockets to the center of the table, of a second series of pipes or tubes leading from the center to a series of receptacles, with an elbow-joint adapted to be rotated, whereby the first series of pipes or tubes is put into connection with each one of the second series of pipes or tubes successively, and means for operating said elbow-joint, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a pool-table, the combination, with a series of pipes or tubes leading from the several pockets on an incline to a common opening at the center, of a second series of pipes or tubes leading from the center on an incline to a series of receptacles on the outside edge of the table, with an elbow-joint having its upper arm constantly in connection With the central opening and its lower arm successively in connection with each of the pipes or tubes of the second series, and cogs on said elbowjoint adapted to be engaged by a suitable Worm on a rod operated by a milled Wheel, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a pool-table, the combination, with two series of pipes leading from the pockets to the center and from the center to a series of receptacles, respectively, of an elbow-joint connecting the two series of pipes, having cogs around its vertical arm adapted to be engaged by Worms on suitable shafts, and a gear-Wheel on each of said shafts adapted to engage by friction With a milled Wheel having graduations on its milled surface, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT ALEXANDER PAIN'E. Witnesses:

WM. SPRATLEY, DRIDER. 

